Part catalog creating system

ABSTRACT

In a part catalog creating system, a part table containing design change numbers respectively set for parts, and header numbers, part numbers, and quantity of the parts, each of which corresponds to the design change numbers, is created, and product number data that contains design change number of part used for manufacturing each product is created, and information that coincides with the product number data is selected from the part table, thereby creating a product number list. The product number list and images of parts corresponding to the product number list are combined and the part catalog data for each product number is output. Thus, the part catalog can be easily created without errors.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a part catalog creating system capableof creating catalogs of a plurality of parts composing a productobtained by assembling the plurality of parts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When a customer purchases a product composed of a plurality of parts andprepares spares of expendable parts of the product, or the parts breakdown and hence should be repaired, the customer needs a part catalog inwhich part numbers are listed for the customer to order the parts.

In the case of products composed of a few parts, it is relatively easyto create a part catalog for each product. However, in the case ofproducts, for example, robot products, which are composed of numerousparts, and are required to meet various requirements of customers, andto deal with constantly advancing performance of control parts or thelike, in an extreme case, products designed differently with very smalldifference for each product, the parts vary from product to product. Insuch products, therefore, it is not easy to create the part catalogs ofthe parts. In the case of the robot product, part configuration in eachrobot manufactured based on the customers' requirements varies fromcustomer to customer, and its design cycle is extremely short.Therefore, in order to meet the customers' requirements, it is necessaryto frequently create part catalogs containing different contents in ashort period, which requires enormous labor and cost.

For this reason, the part catalogs of the robot products are created fora representative product in special occasion, for example, in a timeperiod when new products are placed on sale, and thereafter, afterservices such as revision associated with design change are hardlyprovided. That is, the catalogs are transiently created. More often thannot, the contents of the catalogs become obsolete, and hence becomeunserviceable.

Conventionally, the part catalogs associated with the robot product arecreated by manually selecting parts of the product from total part listin which all the parts used to manufacture the robot product are listed.Regardless of change in the parts to be used according to design change,there arise problems that part numbers before change are listed bymistake, wrong part numbers are described because of posting error, oroptional parts demanded by the customer are not listed.

Further, it is virtually difficult to create the part catalogs to have aone to one correspondence with the robot products designed differentlyfor each robot as described above, in view of required labor and costeffectiveness.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a part catalog creating systemcomprising:

-   -   (a) a part table creating means including a first storage        portion configured to store a part table to be rewritable, the        part table containing design change numbers respectively set for        a plurality of parts composing a product obtained by assembling        the plurality of parts and information corresponding to the        design change numbers;    -   (b) a product number data creating means including a second        storage portion configured to store product number data        containing design change numbers and information of parts used        for each of product numbers of a product assembled with        different part configurations so as to correspond to the product        numbers;    -   (c) a judgment means configured to compare a design change        number of the product number data of the product that has been        read out from the second storage portion to a design change        number of the part table that has been read out from the first        storage portion, select the design change number of the part        table that coincides with the design change number that has been        read out from the second storage portion, and remove design        change numbers remaining unselected and information        corresponding to the unselected design change numbers from the        part table; and    -   (d) a control means configured to create part catalog data for        each product number of the product from the part table that        contains the information corresponding to the design change        number selected by the judgment means, and to output the part        catalog data.

In accordance with the present invention, the judgment means comparesthe part table stored in the part table creating means to the productnumber data stored in the product number data creating means, and basedon the design change number specified by the product number data, thepart table corresponding to each product number of the product can beselected and created without human's labor. Therefore, the part tablefor each product number of the product can be created correctly andwithout a need for much labor, without errors in posting, missing ofoptional parts, etc.

So, in the case of the product, for example, a robot, which is composedof numerous parts, has a variety of part configurations according to thecustomers' requirements, and is designed in a short cycle, the partcatalog having a one to one correspondence with the product can becreated correctly and without much labor.

The part catalog creating system may further comprises

an image creating means configured to create an image corresponding tothe design change number selected by the judgment means, wherein

the control means may be configured to create the part catalog data foreach product number of the product, from the image created by the imagecreating means and the part table containing the design change numberselected by the judgment means and information corresponding to thedesign change number, and to output the part catalog data.

In accordance with the present invention, the control means combines thepart table selected by the judgment means with the image selected by thejudgment means, and creates and output the part catalog data for eachproduct number of the product. Thereby, the part catalog data includingthe image can be created so as to have a one to one correspondence withthe product number of the product correctly and without much labor.

In the part catalog creating system, the information corresponding tothe design change numbers which are stored in the first storage portionof the part table creating means may include header numbers, partnumbers, and quantity (the number) of parts required to be assembledinto the product,

the information stored in the second storage portion of the productnumber data creating means may include design change numbers of partsused for each product number of the product, header numbers of theparts, part numbers of the parts, and quantity (the number) of parts tobe assembled into the product, and

the information corresponding to the unselected design change numbersremoved from the part table by the judgment means may include headernumbers, part numbers, and quantity (the number) of parts required to beassembled into the product.

In accordance with the present invention, the header number, the partnumber, and the quantity of parts required to be assembled into theproduct, each of which corresponds to the design change number, can beoutput as the part catalog data. Thereby, the part can be specified moreeasily.

In the part catalog creating system, the part catalog data output by thecontrol means may include a part name corresponding to the design changenumber.

In accordance with the present invention, the part catalog created fromthe part catalog data includes the part name corresponding to the designchange number. Since individual parts can be specified by the part namesin addition to the images, required parts can be specified morecorrectly.

In the part catalog creating system, the control means may create thepart catalog data for each product number of the product from the parttable that contains the design change number selected by the judgmentmeans, the part number and the quantity of the parts required to beassembled into the product each of which corresponds to the designchange number, and output the part catalog data in such a manner thatparts for standard equipment are distinguished from optional parts.

In accordance with the present invention, the optional parts equippedfor each product number can be easily known, in addition to the partsfor standard equipment, and preparation of the parts in the workingstation or the like is facilitated.

The part catalog creating system may further comprise:

a communication means configured to transmit the part catalog dataoutput from the control means through a communication network, whereinthe part catalog is searchable and accessible through the communicationmeans.

In accordance with the present invention, the part catalog data for eachproduct number which is output by the control means can be transmittedby the communication means through a communication network such as apublic phone line. The communication network is realized by, forexample, Internet. Customers, selling companies, and the like can searchand access to the part catalog created for each product number which istransmitted through the communication means through terminals connectedto the communication network.

In the part catalog creating system, the part catalog data output fromthe control means may be stored in an external storage medium to allow apart catalog to be delivered.

In accordance with the present invention, the part catalog stored in theexternal storage medium can be delivered to the customer together withthe product. By delivering the part catalog stored in the storagemedium, the customer does not confuse the product listed in the partcatalog with the delivered product. In addition, with the part catalogcorresponding to the delivered product, the customer can easily specifyand order the required parts. Further, by storing the part catalogdelivered together with the product, for example, in a storage portionprovided in the product, missing of the part catalog can be avoided, andinformation relating to maintenance of the product can be easilyobtained from the stored part catalog.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing a simplified configuration of a part catalogcreating system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of a part table;

FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of an output of optional part datastored in a second storage portion;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a distribution list image that provides aninstruction on supply of parts to working sections;

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of an output of a list for eachrobot number as a part table by a judgment means;

FIG. 6 is a view of an example of an image of a part catalog showing anapparatus construction of a robot;

FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of a content list portion of thepart catalog relating to each assembly of the robot;

FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of the part catalog relating to anassembly of the robot;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart for explaining a creating operation of the partcatalog in a part catalog creating system 1; and

FIG. 10 is a view showing a simplified configuration of a part catalogcreating system according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a view showing a simplified configuration of a part catalogcreating system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.The part catalog creating system 1 comprises a part table creating means4 comprised of a first input means 2 configured to input design changenumber set for each of a plurality of parts composing a product obtainedby assembling the plurality of parts, and header number, part number,part name and quantity (the number) of parts required to be assembledinto the product, each of which corresponds to the design change number,and a first storage portion 3 that stores a part table containing thedesign change number, the header number, the part number, the part name,and the quantity of parts required to be assembled into the product,each of which is input with the first input means 2, such that the parttable is rewritable, a product number data creating means 7 comprised ofa second input means 5 configured to input a design change number of apart used for each product number of a product assembled with differentpart configurations, and header number, part number, and quantity (thenumber) of parts required to be assembled into the product, each ofwhich corresponds to the design change number, and a second storageportion 6 configured to store the design change number input with thesecond input means 5 as corresponding to the product number of theproduct, a judgment means 8 configured to compare the design changenumber corresponding to the product number of the product which has beenread out from the second storage portion 6 to the design change numberof the part table that has been read out from the first storage portion3, select only the design change number of the part table that coincideswith the design change number read out from the second storage portion6, and remove design change numbers remaining unselected, and headernumbers, part numbers, and quantity of parts required to be assembledinto the product, each of which corresponds to the unselected designchange numbers, from the part table, an image creating means 9configured to create an image of the part corresponding to the headernumber, and a control means 10 configured to combine the part table thatcontains the design change number selected by the judgment means 8, theheader number, the part number and the quantity of parts required to beassembled into the product each of which corresponds to the designchange number with the image corresponding to the header number selectedby the judgment means 8, create and output part catalog data for eachproduct number.

In this embodiment, a robot product will be described as an example of aproduct. Hereinbelow, how to create a part catalog of the robot productwill be described. The robot product comprises an arm portion and acontrol portion. The arm portion and the control portion comprisemembers forming groups into which a plurality of parts are assembled.Herein, for the sake of convenience, the robot is called a product andthe arm portion and the control portion are called control equipment.Each member composed of a plurality of parts and forming the group in alayer lower than the arm portion and the control portion is called anassembly.

The part table creating means 4 is included in a system (herein, “designmanagement system) having a function to input, hold, and outputinformation relating to items of all the parts composing the robot andpart configuration of the assembly, and information such as item changein the parts associated with design change in the robot product. Thepart table creating means 4 is a processing circuit realized by acomputer or the like in which a central processing unit (CPU) ismounted.

The first input means 2 may be realized by, for example, a key board,with which character such as text and numeric character, is input, ormay be realized by a bar code reader configured to read information froma bar code representing information, such as the design change number,the header number, the part number, the part name, and the requirednumber, each of which corresponds to each part, and input theinformation. In order to reduce input errors, it is preferred that thebar code is created in advance and the information is input by the barcode reader.

As the first storage portion 3, a storage component such as a randomaccess memory, a flash memory, or a hard disc which is capable ofrewriting a stored content, is used. The first storage portion 3 storesthe part table that contains the design change number, and the headernumber, the part number, the part name, the quantity of parts, and thelike, each of which is input with the second input means 2. The firststorage portion 3 is rewritable. When the item of the part,configuration of the assembly, and the like are changed according to thedesign change in the robot product, the change is overwritten oradditionally written according to the change input with the first inputmeans, thereby changing the part table.

Thus, the part table can be corrected according to sequential designchange in the robot product. Therefore, revised version of the partcatalog described later can be easily created according to the correctedcontent of the part table. As a result, the part catalog is inhibitedfrom becoming obsolete.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of a part table 11. The part table11 is an example obtained by reading the content stored in the firststorage portion 3 and output onto a paper. In FIG. 2, number representedby alphabet and numeric values listed in column of assortment code 12 isheader number of part, number represented by combination of numericvalues listed in column of item code 13 is part number, combination oftext and numeric values listed in columns of item name (English) 14 anditem name (Japanese) 15 represent part name 16, and numeric value listedin column of head count 17 represent quantity (the number) of parts. Inthis embodiment, the design change number is used to specify the part bythe part table creating means 4, the robot number data creating means 7,and the judgment means 4 for creation of the part catalog, but is notlisted in the part table and the part catalog.

In this embodiment, other information such as drawing number 18 andmaterial of each part are input with the first input means 2, and storedin the first storage portion 3. These information also form the parttable 11. Information relating to all the parts used for manufacturingthe robot product, are stored in the part table creating means 4, as thepart table, regardless of the type and robot number of the robotproduct.

The robot number data creating means 7 comprises a system (hereinreferred to as “production management and acquisition managementsystems”) having a function to input and store information relating toitems of optional parts to be added to parts for standard equipment,which are used for assembling the robot, based on the parts for standardequipment and customers' requirements, and a function to output aninstruction for acquiring the parts required for assembling andsupplying the parts (hereinafter referred to as “distribution”) to theassembling working section, when the robot number of the robot to beactually manufactured is determined. The robot number data creatingmeans 7 is a processing circuit realized by a computer in which acentral processing unit (CPU) is mounted.

The second input means 5 is realized by the bar code reader and/or thekey board. With the second input means 5, the design change number ofthe part for the standard equipment and the optional part, and the robotnumber set as corresponding to the robot to be manufactured, are input.By doing this, the robot number of the robot to be manufactured isassociated with the design change numbers of the parts to be used in therobot.

As the second storage portion 6, the storage component such as therandom access memory, the flash memory, or the hard disc which canrewrite its stored content is used, as in the first storage portion 3.The robot number of the robot to be manufactured and the design changenumber of the part to be used for manufacturing and assembling the robotare stored in the second storage portion 6 for each robot.

In this embodiment, since the design management system comprising thepart table creating means 4 is connected to the production managementand acquisition management system comprising the robot number datacreating means 7 as shown in FIG. 1, data such as the header number, thepart number, the part name, and the quantity of parts are extracted fromthe part table according to the design change number input with thesecond input means 5, and the header number, the part number, or thelike corresponding to the design change number input with the secondinput means 5 are stored in the second storage portion 6.

FIG. 3 is view showing an example of an output of optional part data 21stored in the second storage portion 6. FIG. 4 is a view of an image ofa distribution list 22 that provides instruction on supply of parts toworking sections. The customer requests a manufacturer to add theoptional parts for improvement of performance or the like according touse of the robot product and environment where the robot is used. Theoptional part is input to and stored in the second storage portion 6such that the optional part is distinguished from the part for standardequipment. FIG. 3 shows the example of the optional part data 21, whichare the content read out from the second storage portion 6 and outputonto a paper. In FIG. 3, assortment code 12 is header number, partnumber 13 is number of the part, and part name 16 is name of the part.The optional part data 21 include quantity (the number) of parts 17,drawing number 18, material 19, and the like, in addition to the abovedescribed items.

Distribution list is part list output as an instruction for supplyingparts required for assembling to the working section in each ofmanufacturing steps to manufacture the robot to be actuallymanufactured. FIG. 4 shows the example of the image of the distributionlist 22 displayed on a display means (liquid crystal panel, monitor,etc) (not shown) included in the production management and acquisitionmanagement system. By way of example, the distribution list 22represents the robot number 23 set as corresponding to the robot to bemanufactured and input with the second input means 5, by “0014.”

The distribution list 22 indicates parts for standard equipment andoptional parts. A standard portion 24 indicates the parts for standardequipment and an order-receiving portion 25 indicates the optionalparts. Therefore, in the part catalog described later which is createdusing data in the distribution list 22, the parts for standard equipmentare distinguishable from the optional parts. In the distribution list22, the assortment code 12 is the header number, item code 13 is partnumber, item name 16 is part name, and required number 17 is quantity(the number) of parts. Instruction number 26 displayed in thedistribution list 22 represents the quantity of the parts to be suppliedto the working section at the time point when the distribution list 22is output, and completion number 27 represents the quantity of partswhich have been supplied according to the instruction number 26.

The distribution list is created to include all the parts for standardequipment and optional parts which are required to be assembled intoeach robot to be manufactured and for each working step. Since the partdata stored in the second storage portion 6 of the robot number datacreating means 7 in order to output the distribution list has a one toone correspondence with the robot number of the robot to be actuallymanufactured and delivered to the customer, the part catalog for eachrobot number can be created based on the part data for each robot numberstored in the second storage portion 2.

Turning back to FIG. 1, the judgment means 8 is included in the system(herein referred to as “sale management system”) having a function toread out the part table from the first storage portion 3, select andoutput items and configuration of the parts to be sold, for the purposeof selling the parts used for manufacturing the robot product to a robotselling company, or a customer for each part, for each assembly, or foreach control equipment.

The judgment means 8 responds to an input signal from the control means10 that specifies a robot number for which the part catalog is to becreated. Based on information relating to all the part configurationsforming the robot, and information such as item change of the partassociated with design change of the robot product, which is output fromthe part table creating means 4, and robot number part data from therobot number data creating means 7, the judgment means 8 creates andoutputs a part table including only the design change number thatcoincides with the design change number corresponding to the robotnumber specified by the input signal, i.e., the parts used formanufacturing the robot for which the part catalog is to be created (thepart table thus selected is sometimes referred to as “robot number list28.”) The judgment means 8 is a processing circuit realized by acomputer in which a central processing unit (CPU) is mounted.

In this embodiment, the judgment means 8 creates the robot number list28 according to the signal from the control means 10, specifying therobot number for which the part catalog is to be created. Alternatively,the judgment means 8 included in the sale management system may beprovided with a fourth input means 61 and a fifth storage portion 62. Inthis configuration, the robot number for which the robot number list 28is to be created is input with the fourth input means 61 as theinformation such as the sale management information, and in accordancewith the input signal, the judgment means 8 may create the robot numberlist 28 and store the robot number list 28 in the fifth storage portion62. In this case, in accordance with the signal from the control means10, the robot number list 28 stored in the fifth storage portion 62 isoutput. The fourth input means 61 is realized by a barcode reader and/orkeyboard, and the fifth storage portion 62 is realized by a storagecomponent such as a random access memory, a flash memory, or a harddisc.

FIG. 5 shows an example of an output of the robot number list 28 as thepart table created by the judgment means 8. In the robot number list 28,assortment code 12 is header number, child item code 13 is part number,English name 14 and Japanese name 15 are part names 16, and head count17 is quantity (the number) of parts. In addition to these, the robotnumber list 28 includes material 19 to be output.

The image creating system 9 in FIG. 1 is an illustration creating systemconfigured to create images corresponding to all the parts included inthe part table created by the part table creating means 4, so calledillustrations, as corresponding to the header numbers. The imagecreating system 9 is a processing circuit realized by a computer inwhich a central processing unit (CPU) is mounted. Also, the imagecreating system 9 is configured to form an image for each product, foreach control equipment, and for each assembly, as well as the image foreach part. For example, when a robot number of the robot to be actuallymanufactured is determined and set, and the robot number is input to therobot number data creating means 7 with the second input means 5, therobot number and an identification number with which group defined foreach control equipment and for each assembly is identified, are input.And, the robot number and the group identification number, which havebeen given to the control means 10 by the robot number data creatingmeans 7, are given to the image creating system 9 by the control means10, thereby forming the images for each product to be manufacturedaccording to the robot number and the group identification number, andfor each control equipment and assembly forming the robot. Theillustration creating system as the image creating means 9 is providedwith a third storage portion 29 configured to store image data of therespective parts created as corresponding to the header numbers, imagedata of the product, image data of the control equipment and image dataof the assembly.

The control means 10 is a processing circuit realized by a computer inwhich a central processing unit (CPU) is mounted. The third input means30, the judgment means 8, and the image creating means 9 are connectedto the control means 10, and the output of the control means 10 is givento the display means 32 and the storage means 33. In addition, thecontrol means 10 is provided with a fourth storage portion 31 in whichthe part catalog data is stored. Herein, a section comprising thecontrol means 10, the third input means 30, the display means 32, thestorage means 33, and the fourth storage portion 31 and having afunction to create and output the part catalog data is called a partcatalog automatic creating system 34.

The third input means 30 is realized by a key board or the like. Withthe third input means 30, the robot number for which the part catalog isto be created is selected and is input to the control means 10. Inresponse to the input signal from the third input means 30 thatspecifies the robot number, the control means 10 takes in the robotnumber list 28 corresponding to the specified robot number from thejudgment means 8. Also, the control means 10 takes in the image data ofeach part with the header number corresponding to the robot number list28 set, from the image creating system 9 or from the third storageportion 29 included in the image creating system 9. The control means 10combine these image data to create the part catalog data for each robotnumber. The created part catalog data is output to one of or both of thedisplay means 32 and the storage means 33 by the control means 10 andare stored in the fourth storage portion 31.

The display means 32 is realized by a liquid crystal display panel or acathode ray tube. The storage means 33 comprises a printer and arecorder. The storage means 33 is configured to store the part catalogdata in one of or both of the paper 36 and an electric medium 37 asexternal storage media 35 and create the part catalog. The electronicmedium 37 may be, for example, a flexible disc (FD) by magnetic storage,or may be, for example, a compact disc (CD-R) by optical storage. Thepart catalog is offered in one or a plurality of forms selected from thepaper, the FD, the CD-R, and the like.

The storage medium that contains the part catalog is offered to thecustomer together with, for example, the robot product. The storagemedium given to the customer inhibits the customer from confusing therobot listed in the part catalog with the robot delivered to thecustomer, and the customer can easily specify and order required partswith reference to the part catalog corresponding to the delivered robot.Further, by storing the part catalog delivered together with the robotin a storage portion provided in the robot, missing of the part catalogcan be avoided, and information relating to maintenance of the robot orthe like can be easily obtained from the stored part catalog.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of the image of the part catalogillustrating an apparatus construction of the robot. FIG. 7 is a viewshowing an example of a content list portion 48 of the part catalogassociated with each assembly of the robot. FIG. 8 is a view showing anexample of the part catalog of the parts forming the assembly of therobot.

FIGS. 6 to 8 illustrate the part catalog output onto the paper 36. FIG.6 shows a construction of an apparatus called an arm portion 41 of therobot. As shown in FIG. 6, the arm portion 41 is composed of assembliescalled units, i.e., an upper arm unit 42, a lower arm unit 43, a linkunit 44, a list unit 45, a balancer unit 46, and a base unit 47.

The units 42 to 47 are each composed of assemblies in a lower layer, andthe part catalogs are created for each of the assemblies. The partcatalog for each assembly is illustrated in such a manner that the imageand page of the assembly are displayed in the content list portion 48 inFIG. 8. For example, the part catalog relating to an assembly called“lower arm 3” is illustrated as listed on page 15 of the content listportion 48. On page 15, a part catalog 49 of the “lower arm 3” shown inFIG. 8 is found.

An image portion 50 of the part catalog 49 of the “lower arm 3” in FIG.8 displays header number “P018” representing a clamp duct as one part ofthe “lower arm 3” as indicated by a reference numeral 51. The headernumber 51 represents that a shape of the clamp duct is an image(illustration) 53 indicated by a drawing line 52. Meanwhile, on a listportion 54 of the part catalog 49 of the “lower arm 3,” the headernumber is displayed on the column of “No.” On a line of the headernumber 51 “P018” on the list portion 54, part number “60373-1221”, partname “clamp duct 2”, and quantity of parts “2” are displayed.

FIGS. 6 to 8 show the part catalog obtained by outputting the partcatalog data to the paper 36 (FIG. 1) of the storage means 33 by thecontrol means 10. In the same manner, the part catalog data can beoutput to, for example, the display means 32 comprised of the liquidcrystal panel. When the part catalog is displayed on the display means32, the display means 32 is provided with a function in which link isformed between an image and a display portion on the image which areassociated with each other by the header number, and free movementbetween images and between display portions on the image, is performedin accordance with an operation to select a hot spot formed on the image(“function similar to “hyperlink”). For example, among the imagerepresenting the configuration of the control equipment of the armportion 41 in FIG. 6, the image of the content list portion 48 in FIG.7, and the image of the part catalog 49 of the “lower arm 3” in FIG. 8,free movement is carried out by using a mouse or the like as the inputmeans provided in the display means 32 to select the hot spot.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining operations for creating the partcatalog in the part catalog creating system 1. A series of operationsfor creating the part catalog for each robot number of the robot productby the part catalog creating system 1 will be described with referenceto a flowchart in FIG. 9.

In step s1, with the first input means 2, a design change number set ascorresponding to each of the parts used for manufacturing the robotproduct, header number, part number, part name, and quantity (thenumber) of parts required to be assembled into the robot product, eachof which corresponds to the design change number, are input to the parttable creating means 4. In step s2, the part table that contains thedesign change number, the header number, the part number, the part name,and the quantity of parts is stored in the first storage portion 3. InStep s3, the image creating means 9 creates an image (illustration) ofeach part corresponding to the header number. The created image of eachpart is stored in the third storage portion 29.

In Step s4, with the second input means 5, a robot number of a robotproduct and design change number of the part for standard equipment andoptional part, which are used in the robot of the robot number, areinput to the robot number data creating means 7. In Step s5, the robotnumber of the robot product and the design change number of the partcorresponding to the robot number, which correspond to the input robotnumber data, are stored in the second storage portion 6.

In Step s6, the judgment means 8 compares the design change number inthe part table which has been read out from the first storage portion 3to the design change number corresponding to the robot number which hasbeen read out from the second storage portion 6. In Step s7, thejudgment means 8 selects only the design change number corresponding tothe robot number which has been read out from the second storage portion6, from the part table, and removes the remaining design change numberwhich have not been selected, and header numbers, part numbers, and thelike, which correspond to the remaining design change numbers, from thepart table.

In Step s8, the control means 10 takes in the image of the part thatcoincides with the header number corresponding to the robot number whichhas been read out from the second storage portion 6. In step s9, thecontrol means 10 combines the selected part table and the taken inimage, thereby creating the part catalog data. In step s10, the controlmeans 10 outputs the part catalog data to be stored in the storage means33 and creates the part catalog.

In Step s11, it is judged whether or not the part catalog of asubsequent robot number should be created. When it is judged that thepart catalog of the subsequent robot number should be created,processing returns to Step s4, and the following steps are performed.When it is judged that the part catalog of the subsequent robot numbershould not be created, the series of operations for creating the partcatalog is completed.

The above described series of operations are for the case where the parttable and the part catalog for each robot number are newly created.Operations for creating the part catalog for each robot number in thecase where the created part table is stored in the first storage portion3, various robot-number products have been already manufactured, and therobot number data for numerous robot-number products are stored in thesecond storage portion 6, will be described below.

First of all, with the third input means 30 (FIG. 1), the robot numberfor which the part catalog is to be created is selected and input to thecontrol means 10. The control mean 10 outputs a signal for specifyingthe robot number to the judgment means 8. The judgment means 8 respondsto the signal for specifying the robot number and starts the operationin step s6. The Step s6 and the following steps sequentially advancealong the steps shown in the flowchart in FIG. 9. When it is judged thatthe part catalog of a subsequent robot number should be created in steps11, the robot number for which a subsequent part catalog is to becreated is input to the control means 10 with the third input means 30,and the above described operation is repeated. When it is judged thatthe subsequent part catalog should not be created, the series ofoperations for creating the part catalog is completed.

As described above, the part table of the robot product is created, therobot number data creating means 7 specifies the parts used for therobot to be manufactured, and the judgment means 8 selects the partsfrom the part table and creates the robot number list 28 in accordancewith the specification by the robot number data creating means 7. Thecontrol means 10 combines the robot number list 28 and the images of theparts corresponding to the header numbers in the robot number list 28and creates the part catalog.

As should be appreciated from the forgoing, in contrast to a case wherethe parts used for the robot to be manufactured are manually selectedfrom the part table, mistakes in selection and errors in posting can beavoided and the parts can be selected without manual labor. Therefore,it is possible to significantly reduce the labor required for creatingthe part catalog, and create the part catalog having a one to onecorrespondence with the robot number of the product. In addition, thepart table is rewritable and when the parts used for manufacture arechanged according to design change, the data in the part table creatingmeans 4 is rewritten with the first input means 2. Thereby, the parttable can be easily updated and the part catalog based on the part tablecan be updated. As a result, the part table is inhibited from becomingobsolete.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a simplified configuration of a part catalogcreating system 55 according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention. The part catalog creating system 55 of this embodiment issimilar to the part catalog creating system 1 of the first embodiment,and in FIG. 10, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 denotethe same or corresponding parts, which will not be further described. Itshould be noted that the part catalog creating system 55 furthercomprises a communication means 56 configured to transmit the partcatalog data output from the control means 10 through a communicationnetwork.

The control means 10 of the part catalog creating system 55 is connectedto a public phone line 57 through a communication modem or the like, andthe public phone line 57 is connected to a network search access system58 in FIG. 10, thereby enabling communication. The network search accesssystem 58 is realized by, for example, Internet. The communicationmodem, the public phone line 57, and the network search access system 58realized by the Internet configure the communication means 56.

The customer and the selling company that can search and access to thepart catalog comprise terminals 59 a, 59 b, and 59 c for search andaccess and communication modems (including communication equipment suchas routers). The terminals 59 a, 59 b, and 59 c are connected to publicphone lines 60 a, 60 b, and 60 c through the communication modems,respectively. Since the public phone lines 60 a, 60 b, and 60 c areconnected to the network search access system 58, the customer, theselling company, and the like can search and access to the part catalogfor each robot number which is output from the control means 10 or thepart catalog for each robot number which is stored in the fourth storageportion 31.

By configuring so that the part catalog data for each robot number ofthe product which is output from the control means 10 through thecommunication means including a communication network such as the publicphone line, the customer, the selling company and the like can searchand access to the part catalog for each robot number of the productwhich is transmitted though the communication means by using theterminals connected to the communication network. Thereby, newestcatalog data is easily accessible even in a remote place.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to create partcatalogs having a one to one correspondence with a robot number of aproduct correctly and without much labor, for products such as robotproducts which are composed of numerous parts, have a variety of partconfigurations according to customers' requirements, and are designed inshort cycles.

1. A part catalog creating system comprising: (a) a part table creatingmeans including a first storage portion configured to store a part tableto be rewritable, the part table containing design change numbersrespectively set for a plurality of parts composing a product obtainedby assembling the plurality of parts, header numbers corresponding tothe design change numbers, part numbers corresponding to the designchange numbers and quantity of parts corresponding to the design changenumbers and required to be assembled into the product; (b) an inputmeans for inputting product numbers of a product assembled withdifferent part configurations, design change numbers of parts used foreach of the product numbers of the product, and group identificationnumbers each of which is for identifying a group comprising one of anassembly or control equipment in the product of the product numbers; (c)a product number data creating means including a second storage portionconfigured to store product number data containing the design changenumbers and the group identification numbers which are input by theinput means so as to correspond to the product numbers input; (d) ajudgment means configured to compare a design change number of theproduct number data of the product that has been read out from thesecond storage portion to a design change number of the part table thathas been read out from the first storage portion, select the designchange number of the part table that coincides with the design changenumber that has been read out from the second storage portion, andremove design change numbers remaining unselected, header numberscorresponding to the unselected design change numbers, part numberscorresponding to the unselected design change numbers, and quantity ofparts corresponding to the unselected design change numbers and requiredto be assembled into the product, from the part table; and (e) a selectand input means for selecting and inputting a product number for which apart catalog is to be created; (f) a control means configured to causethe judgment means to select the design numbers according to the productnumber input by the select and input means and create part catalog datafor each product number of the product from the part table that containsheader numbers corresponding to the design change numbers selected bythe judgment means, part numbers corresponding to the selected designchange numbers, and quantity of parts corresponding to the selecteddesign change numbers and required to be assembled into the product andto output the part catalog data, (g) an image creating means configuredto create an image of the part corresponding to the design change numberselected by the judgment means, an image of the control equipment, andan image of the assembly corresponding to the group identificationnumber included in the product number data of the product which has beenread out from the second storage portion, (h) wherein the control meanscreates the part catalog data for each product number of the product,based on the images of the part, the control equipment, and the assemblycreated by the image creating means, and the part table that containsthe design change number selected by the judgment means, the part numberand the quantity of the parts required to be assembled into the product,each of which corresponds to the selected design change number, whereinthe control means outputs the part catalog data such that parts forstandard equipment and optional parts are displayed in a standardportion and an order-receiving portion, respectively, to distinguish thestandard equipment from the optional parts; and (i) the part catalogdata further includes quantity of the optional parts to be supplied andquantity of the optional parts which have been supplied.
 2. The partcatalog creating system according to claim 1, further comprising: acommunication means configured to transmit the part catalog data outputfrom the control means through a communication network, wherein the partcatalog is searchable and accessible through the communication means. 3.The part catalog creating system according to claim 1, wherein the partcatalog data output from the control means is stored in an externalstorage medium to allow the part catalog to be delivered.
 4. A partcatalog creating system comprising: a part table creating meansincluding a first storage portion configured to store a part table to berewritable, the part table containing: design change numbersrespectively set for a plurality of parts composing a product obtainedby assembling the plurality of parts, header numbers corresponding tothe design change numbers, part numbers corresponding to the designchange numbers, and quantity of parts corresponding to the design changenumbers and required to be assembled into the product; an input meansfor inputting product numbers of a product assembled with different partconfigurations, design change numbers of parts used for each of theproduct numbers of the product, and group identification numbers each ofwhich is for identifying a group comprising one of an assembly orcontrol equipment in the product of the product numbers; a productnumber data creating means including a second storage portion configuredto store product number data containing the design change numbers andthe group identification numbers which are input by the input means soas to correspond to the product numbers input; a judgment meansconfigured to: compare a design change number of the product number dataof the product that has been read out from the second storage portion toa design change number of the part table that has been read out from thefirst storage portion, select the design change number of the part tablethat coincides with the design change number that has been read out fromthe second storage portion, and remove from the part table: designchange numbers remaining unselected, header numbers corresponding to theunselected design change numbers, part numbers corresponding to theunselected design change numbers, and quantity of parts corresponding tothe unselected design change numbers and required to be assembled intothe product; a select and input means for selecting and inputting aproduct number for which a part catalog is to be created; a controlmeans configured to cause the judgement means to select the designnumbers according to the product number input by the select and inputmeans and create part catalog data for each product number of theproduct from the part table that contains header numbers correspondingto the design change numbers selected by the judgment means, partnumbers corresponding to the selected design change numbers, andquantity of parts corresponding to the selected design change numbersand required to be assembled into the product and to output the partcatalog data and output the part catalog data from the control means toan external storage medium; an image creating means configured to createan image of the part corresponding to the design change number selectedby the judgment means, an image of the control equipment, and an imageof the assembly corresponding to the group identification numberincluded in the product number data of the product; wherein the controlmeans creates the part catalog data for each product number of theproduct, based on the images of the part, the control equipment, and theassembly created by the image creating means, and the part table thatcontains the design change number selected by the judgment means, thepart number and the quantity of the parts required to be assembled intothe product, each of which corresponds to the selected design changenumber; wherein parts for standard equipment and optional parts aredisplayed in a standard portion and an order-receiving portion,respectively, to distinguish the standard equipment from the optionalparts; and wherein the part catalog data further includes quantity ofthe optional parts to be supplied an quantity of the optional partswhich have been supplied.